Have you received an email like this from something called Flip or Flipora or Infoaxe?

Flip Scam

The message comes from info@info-emailer.com but is made to look like it is coming from a friend of yours. The subject of the message gives your friend’s name and then says “sent you a friend request on Flip ”. The body of the message says:
“If you can’t see this email please click here to respond
*YOUR FRIEND’S NAME HERE* has added you as a friend
Is *YOUR FRIEND’S NAME HERE* your friend?
Yes No
Click here to block all emails from Flip, 440 N. Wolfe Rd MS# 153, Sunnyvale, CA. 94085. Privacy Policy”

Although technically this isn’t exactly a virus or scam or information phishing scheme, it sure seems like one. Flip, Flipora and Infoaxe are all the same company. The service they apparently offer is to track your web browsing habits and suggest ads and search results based on what sites you visit. It is like voluntarily signing up to have spyware or malware on your computer. The worst thing about this service is that when you sign up you inadvertently give them access to your email address book and they use that information to send all of your friends, family and co-workers junk mail inviting them to also use Flip, Flipora and Infoaxe. They may also sell your address book information to third party spammers. There is no social media site called “Flip”. The bottom line: do not follow any of the links in the message. If you did click on the links then do not type in any of your information. If you did type in your information then you should change your email password right away.

The links in the email bring you to:

http://login.flipora.com/

http://invites.info-emailer.com/

Don’t enter your information on any of these pages.

The IP addresses that they have been using for sending emails are in the 74.86.42.* range. The two messages I received came from 74.86.42.174 and 74.86.42.170. If your email service allows you to block spammers based on their IP address then you can use this information to block Flip from sending you messages.